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Bioaccumulation of Mercury by Fish and Fish-forage Organisms in Camp Far West Reservoir, Yuba and Placer Counties, California

Mercury contamination from historic gold mining operations is widespread in many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. A multidisciplinary investigation by USGS is attempting to better understand mercury dynamics and to identify hot spots within Camp Far West Reservoir in order to determine if remediation More...

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Chemical Contamination of Hatchery Fish Feed

This project addresses the occurrence of metal and organochlorine contaminant residues in commercial feeds purchased by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) hatcheries. Research into fish feed quality could benefit all hatchery and aquaculture operations and assist in the interpretation of the effects of pollution on wild fish. Results from More...

  • Salmon with broken back syndrome

Transmission of Renibacterium Salmoninarum in Pacific Salmonids

Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) is caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum and is considered to be the most difficult salmonid bacterial disease to control, in part because of its dual modes of transmission. This bacterium, unlike most other fish pathogens, is transmitted vertically from parent fish to progeny in association with the eggs, as well as More...

  • Juvenile chinook salmon with bacterial kidney disease (BKD)

Mercury Contamination in Fillets of Selected Sport Fishes from Lake Natoma

Lake Natoma, an 8,760 acre-feet reservoir on the American River, is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) for multiple uses that include fishing and other water-based recreation. Preliminary results from 22 fish samples collected in Lake Natoma during August 2000 indicate that the mercury content may approach or exceed guidelines for More...

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Cellular and Genetic Tracers of Transport Time in Groundwater Systems

Artificially maintained water levels within the lake and stresses placed upon the aquifer by well withdrawals facilitate movement of water from the lake into the local ground water system, potentially allowing contaminants to enter the aquifer from the lake. This raises national concern because similar lakeside settings exist throughout the United More...

  • Diatom image of the species Cymbella tumida.

Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST)

BEST evaluates environmental contaminants and their effects on species and lands under the stewardship of the Department of Interior to provide scientific information and guide management actions. The BEST Program provides the conceptual framework, leadership, and national coordination to identify spatial and temporal trends in contaminant More...

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Investigations on fish health in selected tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and linkages to water quality, land use and other environmental factors

During the summer and fall of 1996 and 1997, an unusually high prevalence of skin lesions in fishes from the Pocomoke River, Maryland and other tributaries of Chesapeake Bay stimulated significant public concern and scientific interest. This study examined the effect of environmental factors on weakening fish disease resistance of fish to the More...

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